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Texas Brigade at Spotsylvania
Col. William C. Oates of the 15th Alabama relates the following story concerning the battle of Spotsylvania:
The charge of the Texas brigade was for a time partially successful. They did not have any bayonets, and that fact was discovered by the enemy confronting them, who charged over a portion of the works; but the Texans, by desperate fighting and clubbing their guns, hand-to-hand, drove out their assailants and recaptured their line. I never saw that brigade afterward without bayonets, and many of the men carried an extra one so as to be sure to have at least one on hand for the next fight. Theretofore they had thrown away their bayonets to avoid carrying them; they had never seen the need of them. Thereafter when passing other brigades of the division the men would yell, "Hello! Texas, do you ever carry any bayonets? Have you learned the use of them?"
I suspect Col. Oates may be employing a bit of hyperbole when he describes some soldiers carrying two bayonets, but his story is nevertheless revealing.
Col. William C. Oates of the 15th Alabama relates the following story concerning the battle of Spotsylvania:
The charge of the Texas brigade was for a time partially successful. They did not have any bayonets, and that fact was discovered by the enemy confronting them, who charged over a portion of the works; but the Texans, by desperate fighting and clubbing their guns, hand-to-hand, drove out their assailants and recaptured their line. I never saw that brigade afterward without bayonets, and many of the men carried an extra one so as to be sure to have at least one on hand for the next fight. Theretofore they had thrown away their bayonets to avoid carrying them; they had never seen the need of them. Thereafter when passing other brigades of the division the men would yell, "Hello! Texas, do you ever carry any bayonets? Have you learned the use of them?"
I suspect Col. Oates may be employing a bit of hyperbole when he describes some soldiers carrying two bayonets, but his story is nevertheless revealing.
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